Downtown Madness 2012: Downtown vs. Crosstown

Downtown Madness, the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin's award-winning, social media driven restaurant promotion tips off Wednesday, March 7. This year's encore edition pits eight downtown Elgin eateries and their signature dishes against eight of their "crosstown" rivals' in an epicurean battle for Elgin bragging rights, where the public's votes determine the winners round-by-round until a champion is crowned.

The brackets for this year's field of 16 sweet Elgin dishes are set. Here are the opening round match-ups:

DOWNTOWN

Elgin Public House (219 E. Chicago Street) Turkey Avocado BLT vs.
Toom Toom Thai Restaurant (23 S. Grove Avenue) Nam Tok

Villa Verone (13 Douglas Avenue) Gamberi e Cappesante Scampi vs.
Buckingham's Steakhouse (250 S. Grove Avenue inside Grand Victoria Casino) Grand Tomahawk

Prairie Rock Grill (127 S. Grove Avenue) Prairie Rock Cuban vs.
Ravenheart Coffee (176 E. Chicago Street) Macadamia Nut White Mocha

Prime BurgerHouse (250 S. Grove Avenue) Drunken Bull Burger vs.
Al's Cafe (43 DuPage Court) Roasted Salmon Mediterranean

CROSSTOWN

In the Neighborhood Deli (185 Edison Street) Garlic Dijon Chicken Sandwich vs.
Herb's Bakery (1020 Larkin Avenue) German Pretzel Roll

The Walnut Speakeasy (214 Walnut Avenue) Ribs vs.
Danny's Pizza (302 S. McLean Blvd) Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza

Paul's Family Restaurant (1300 Lawrence Avenue) Apple Bacon Cheddar Sandwich vs.
Colonial Cafe (600 S. McLean Blvd) Ultimate Grilled Mac and Cheese Melt

Nick's Pizza & Pub (990 S. Randall Road) Nick's Special vs.
Big Apple Bagels (561 N. McLean Blvd) Big Apple Club

Voters choose their favorites in each of the eight opening round match-ups via the Downtown Madness online voting form, which can be found at http://www.DowntownElgin.com beginning Wednesday, March 7 at Noon. All voters must provide a first and last name and a valid e-mail address. LIMIT ONE ballot per person, per round.

Opening Round voting closes on Monday, March 12 at 5PM. Voters can follow the results with daily updates via Downtown Madness Score Central updates on the DNA Blog at http://downtownelgin.blogspot.com.

The establishments receiving the higher vote totals in each match-up advance to Round 2, which takes place from Friday, March 16 at Noon thru Monday, March 19 at 5PM. Third round voting occurs Friday, March 23 at Noon thru Monday, March 26 at 5PM. The winners of both the Downtown bracket and Crosstown bracket face-off against one another in the Championship Round which takes place between Friday, March 30 at Noon and Monday, April 2 at 11:59PM.

ELGIN "EAT 16" PUNCH CARD PROMOTION

While Downtown Madness voters can pick the winners, they can also punch their "big dance" ticket and to eat, play and win big with a new Downtown Madness punch card promotion known as the Elgin "Eat 16". Thru April 4, individuals can pick up their Elgin "Eat 16" punch card ticket at the DNA office, 2 Douglas Avenue in downtown Elgin, or at any participating venue and receive punches for trying each of the Downtown Madness signature dishes. After collecting all 16 required punches, participants can return their completed punch card ticket to the DNA to score a Downtown Madness t-shirt. They will also be entered into a drawing for a chance to win other great prizes.

DOWNTOWN MADNESS PICK 'EM CHALLENGE

Participants can also take a winning shot at $100 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates with the Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge. Participants who Download the Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Brackets and correctly predict the winners of ALL 15 match-ups can score big. Pick 'Em Challenge brackets must be completed and received by the DNA no later than Tuesday, March 13. Submissions can be mailed to DNA, 2 Douglas Ave, Elgin, IL 60120, faxed to (847) 488-1449 or e-mailed to downtownelgin@gmail.com.

In addition to being awarded the Downtown Madness traveling trophy for 2012, the winning establishment will also receive a free "Blue" Level Sponsorship in the City of Elgin's 2012 Fourth of July Parade.

Links to the Downtown Madness online voting form are also available via the DNA's Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/DowntownElgin or by signing up for their Downtown Neighborhood News Top 10 e-blast. Participating establishments will also have links to the voting form through their individual web sites and social media pages.

During last year's promotion, Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork Sandwich captured the Downtown Madness hardware after holding off Bangkok House and Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng in a hotly contested Championship Round of voting.

This past October, Downtown Madness was honored with a Lt. Governor's Award for Main Street Revitalization Promotion at the Illinois Main Street Conference and Awards Dinner in Galesburg, Illinois.